MPs and Metro Mayor to join RMT Staff our Stations action across the North East next week

RAIL UNION RMT is continuing its Staff our Stations campaign across the North East this week. Following a successful demonstration at Berwick-upon-Tweed station, further demonstrations are taking place at Newcastle Central and Durham stations on the 13th December and Darlington and York stations on the 15th December. 

 

Ian Mearns MP for Gateshead will be joining the Newcastle demonstration on 13th December at 09:00am and North of Tyne Mayor Jamie Driscoll will be joining at 11:00am.  

 

In the region, ticket offices at the stations targeted are all facing cuts to ticket office opening hours under operator LNER’s proposals to slash ticket office opening hours at its stations.  

 

RMT members and activists from across the North East will be using these events to speak to passengers about the Government and rail industry’s planned attacks on stations and ticket offices which will make the rail network less safe, secure and accessible for passengers. 

 

General Secretary Mick Lynch said: 

 

“At these events, RMT will be telling passengers across the North East about the threats to stations and the proposals to significantly reduce ticket office opening hours at key stations on the LNER network. 

 

“These demonstrations will send a clear message to the Government, and train companies such as LNER, that cuts to stations and ticket offices run counter to what passengers want and will do nothing to support the post-Covid recovery of the sustainable rail network. In fact, research by the Government’s own watchdog has found that passengers want to see more, not less staff. 

 

“Rather than cynically exploiting the Covid crisis to cut station staffing and attack ticket offices, the Government should be investing in creating a sustainable, reliable, accessible rail network in public ownership, which works for passengers, not profit. 

 

“RMT is continuing to ramp up its Staff our Stations campaign to oppose cuts which make the railway less safe, secure and accessible for passengers and will be replicating this activity around the country in coming months.”

 

Ends

 

Note to editors

 

Demonstrations are taking place at the following stations: 

 

Monday 13th December 2021

Newcastle Central- 09:00- 12:00 – Ian Mearns MP for Gateshead will be joining at 09:00am and Jamie Driscoll, North of Tyne Mayor will be joining this demonstration from 11.00 – 11.30am

 

Durham- 12:40- 15:30

 

Wednesday 15th December 2021

Darlington- 09:30- 12:30

 

York- 13:00- 16:00

 

 

 

MPs and Metro Mayor to join RMT Staff our Stations action across the North East next week in response to threats to station staff and ticket offices in the region

 

RAIL UNION RMT is continuing its Staff our Stations campaign across the North East this week. Following a successful demonstration at Berwick-upon-Tweed station, further demonstrations are taking place at Newcastle Central and Durham stations on the 13th December and Darlington and York stations on the 15th December.

 

Ian Mearns MP for Gateshead will be joining the Newcastle demonstration on 13th December at 09:00am and North of Tyne Mayor Jamie Driscoll will be joining at 11:00am. 

 

In the region, ticket offices at the stations targeted are all facing cuts to ticket office opening hours under operator LNER’s proposals to slash ticket office opening hours at its stations. 

 

RMT members and activists from across the North East will be using these events to speak to passengers about the Government and rail industry’s planned attacks on stations and ticket offices which will make the rail network less safe, secure and accessible for passengers.

 

General Secretary Mick Lynch said:

 

“At these events, RMT will be telling passengers across the North East about the threats to stations and the proposals to significantly reduce ticket office opening hours at key stations on the LNER network.

 

“These demonstrations will send a clear message to the Government, and train companies such as LNER, that cuts to stations and ticket offices run counter to what passengers want and will do nothing to support the post-Covid recovery of the sustainable rail network. In fact, research by the Government’s own watchdog has found that passengers want to see more, not less staff.

 

“Rather than cynically exploiting the Covid crisis to cut station staffing and attack ticket offices, the Government should be investing in creating a sustainable, reliable, accessible rail network in public ownership, which works for passengers, not profit.

 

“RMT is continuing to ramp up its Staff our Stations campaign to oppose cuts which make the railway less safe, secure and accessible for passengers and will be replicating this activity around the country in coming months.”

 

Ends

 

Geoff Martin

07831 465 103

 

Note to editors

 

Demonstrations are taking place at the following stations:

 

 

Monday 13th December 2021

Newcastle Central- 09:00- 12:00 – Ian Mearns MP for Gateshead will be joining at 09:00am and Jamie Driscoll, North of Tyne Mayor will be joining this demonstration from 11.00 – 11.30am

 

Durham- 12:40- 15:30

 

Wednesday 15th December 2021

Darlington- 09:30- 12:30

 

York- 13:00- 16:00